Even as we acknowledge how we can improve as a nation, Canadians can be proud of our country.
There is no contradiction between acknowledging real national challenges and shortcomings and loving Canada. In fact, acknowledging challenges and working together to address those challenges is an act of love and respect for our country and our fellow Canadians.
Recognizing challenges and believing they can be addressed can lead us to take action. And when that action is based upon moving towards a positive vision of the future, it can help buttress and restore confidence in our own capabilities and the capability of our country to continue adapting and improving.
With this in mind, let’s consider a recent Leger poll showing 82% of Albertans are proud to be Canadian, 72% are confident in Canada’s long-term existence, and 25% say Confederation treats all regions fairly. That last number can be linked to another finding of the poll, which is that 36% of Albertans feel less proud to be Canadian compared to a few years ago, while 25% say their level of pride has increased, and 38% say their level of pride has not changed.
These findings should not be seen as contradictory, but rather as a vivid example of how pride in Canada and belief in Canada can go hand in hand with belief that things can be made to work better, and that sentiment about Canada can be complex and nuanced. It also shows that there is a large reservoir of support for Canada in Alberta, and that deepening that reservoir depends upon good faith action from the federal government and all Canadians, based upon mutual respect.
Rather than demonizing each other, we can recognize that addressing Canada’s issues from a place of shared pride in being Canadian is a positive-sum move that benefits all of us. This recognition, and the results of the Leger poll mentioned above, are reasons to be cautiously hopeful about our ability to keep building an enduring, unified and prosperous Canada that includes all Canadians and all regions of our country.
Spencer Fernando
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